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Expedition

Following in the footsteps of Alexander the Great


Accompanied by Academician Edvard Rtveladze


Iran – Turkmenistan – Uzbekistan

TehranShirazIsfahanMashhadMaryMervBukharaKarshiTermezShakhrisabzSamarkandTashkent

(15 days / 14 nights)


 

     This Expedition is lead by Academician Edward Rtveladze, a prominent scientist in the sphere of history, archeology, numismatics, culture and arts of Central Asia and neighboring states. The participants of this expedition are tourists from different parts of the world. The aim of expedition is to cover the Eastern campaign route of Alexander the Great.

     During this tour you will visit remarkable spots related to Alexander the Great, participate in archaeological excavations, get acquainted with unknown historical facts, unique material and spiritual monuments. In addition, you will take part in scientific conferences held in Iran, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, conducted by noble historians and prominent archaeologists.

     This expedition will bring you to a land where Alexander the Great married a legendary Roxana from Amu Darya region and will shed a light on romantic and tragic story of deep but short-lived love, which contributed to the alliance between Greece and the Orient.


Dates Cities Activities Meals  
Day 01
Tue
Tehran Evening arrival in Tehran.
Accommodation in hotel.
Dinner.
Overnight in Tehran.
Dinner: Restaurant
Day 02
Wed
Tehran
Shiraz
Sightseeing tour in Tehran:
Visit to National Museum of Ancient Iran, Golestan Palace, Carpet museum in the North of Laleh Park.

Introductory conference with participation of scientists from Iran.

Evening flight to Shiraz.
Arrival in Shiraz.
Accommodation in hotel.
Overnight in Shiraz.
Breakfast: Hotel
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Tehran
Shiraz
Day 03
Thr
Shiraz
Persepolis
Shiraz
After breakfast excursion to Persepolis and Naqsh-e Rostam.

Observing the archaeological ruins of ancient city.

Overnight at the hotel in Shiraz.
Breakfast: Hotel
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Persepolis
Persepolis - The Gate of All Nations
Day 04
Fri
Shiraz
Pasargadae
Isfahan
After breakfast drive to Isfahan (428 km).
En route visit to Pasargadae and Izadkhast.
Arrival in Isfahan.
Accommodation in hotel.
Overnight at the hotel in Isfahan.
Breakfast: Hotel
Lunch: Lunch box
Dinner: Restaurant
Pasargadae
Day 05
Sat
Isfahan After breakfast sightseeing tour in Isfahan:
Visit to Naghsh-é Jahan Square, Masjed-é Sheikh Lotfollah, Masjed-é Emam and Shah mosques (17 th century), Ali Ghapu Palace.
Overnight at the hotel in Isfahan.
Breakfast: Hotel
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Isfahan
Day 06
Sun
IsfahanMashhad Domestic flight to Mashad.
Arrival in Mashhad.
Accommodation in hotel.

Sightseeing in Mashhad:
Visit to Gowharshad Mosque, The Nader Shah Mausoleum, tomb of Nader Shah Afshar, the National Park, Kooh Sangi Promenade.

Overnight at the hotel in Mashhad.
Breakfast: Hotel
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant

Mashhad
Day 07
Mon
Mashhad
Mary
Morning transfer to Serakhs Border.
Crossing Iranian/Turkmen border. 
Meeting guide and drive to Mary.
Arrival in Mary.
Accommodation in hotel.
Visit to History Museum of Mary.
Observe archaeological finds and ethnography expositions.

Conference with participation of noble scientists from Turkmenistan in the conference hall of the museum.

Overnight at the hotel in Mary.
Breakfast: Hotel
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Merv
Merv
Day 08
Tue
Mary
Merv
Mary
Morning transfer to Ancient Merv.

Meeting local archaeologists and restorers in reserve "Ancient Merv".

Full day excursion in Old Merv escorted by local archaeologists:
Visit to  Alexandria, Antiochia, “Keshk” remains.

Conference with participation of scientists from Turkmenistan.

Overnight at the hotel in Mary.
Breakfast: Hotel
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Merv
Merv
Merv
Day 09
Wed
Mary
Bukhara
Morning transfer to Turkmen/Uzbek border, check point Farab (280 km, 3 h).
Meeting guide and drive to Bukhara (80 km).
Accommodation in hotel upon arrival in Bukhara.
Sightseeing tour in Bukhara.
Overnight at the hotel in Bukhara.
Breakfast: Hotel
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Bukhara - View on Kalon minaret
Day 10
Thr
Bukhara
Karshi
Termez
Transfer to Karshi (165 km).
En route visit to Er Kurgan.
Transfer to Termez (270 km).
Arrival in Termez.
Accommodation in hotel.
Overnight at the hotel in Termez.
Breakfast: Hotel
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Bukhara - Citadel Ark
Day 11
Fri
Termez Sightseeing tour in Termez:
Visit to Archeology Museum.

Observe the collection of exhibits found on the territory of ancient Termez and archaeological spots from South of Uzbekistan, which include wall inscriptions graphite markings, ceramic objects, uncommon coins, tools, etc.

Transfer to Kampyr Tepa.
Participation in excavation work.

Conference with participation of Edvard Rtveladze and other Uzbek scientists.

Overnight in Termez.
Breakfast: Hotel
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Termez - Archeological Museum in Termez
Termez - Kampyr Tepa
Termez - Kampyr Tepa
Day 12
Sat
TermezShakhrisabzSamarkand Transfer to Shakhrisabz (300 km).
Sightseeing in Shakhrisabz:
Ak–Sarai Palace (14-15c), Kok Gumbaz Mosque (15 c), Dorus-Siadat (15 c).
Transfer to Samarkand (170 km).
Arrival in Samarkand.
Accommodation in hotel.
Overnight in Samarkand.
Breakfast: Hotel
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Shakhrisabz
Day 13
Sun
Samarkand Sightseeing tour in Samarkand:
Shahi-Zinda necropolis, Ulugbek observatory (15c), “Ruines of   Afrosiab” - the excavation and museum of the ancient town.
Visit to medieval architectural monuments.

Conference in Institute of Archaeology in Samarkand.

Overnight in Samarkand.
Breakfast: Hotel
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Samarkand - Registan
Day 14
Mon
SamarkandTashkent Transfer to Tashkent.
Arrival in Tashkent.
Accommodation in hotel.
Visit to Art History Institute where artifacts are kept.
Sightseeing tour in Tashkent.
Overnight in Tashkent.
Breakfast: Hotel
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Tashkent
Day 15
Tue
Tashkent After breakfast transfer to the airport to take international flight back home. Breakfast: Hotel


Accommodation in:

Iran
Tehran – Laleh Hotel 5*
Shiraz – Pars Hotel 5*
Isfahan – Abbasi Hotel 5*
Mashad – Pardisan Hotel 5*
 
Turkmenistan
Mary – Margush/Yrsgal Hotel 3*
 
Uzbekistan
Tashkent – Tashkent Palace 4*
Bukhara – Asia Bukhara 4*
Samarkand – Afrosiab Palace 4*
Termez – Meridian Hotel 3*
 

SERVICES INCLUDED IN TOUR PRICE:
SERVICES NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR PRICE:
  • Accommodation based on TWN rooms
  • Meals – according to the itinerary
  • Entrance fees for sightseeing spots mentioned 
  • Overland transportation by AC coach
  • All airport-hotel-airport transfers
  • Escort guide for the whole tour (English speaking)
  • All sightseeing as specified in the itinerary
  • Folklore show in Bukhara
  • Farewell dinner in Tashkent
  • Visa support to Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
  • Portage services in airports and hotels
  • 1 bottle of mineral water per day per pax
  • International airfares
  • Domestic air fare Tehran – Shiraz
  • Domestic air fare Isfahan – Mashad
  • Camera and Video charges during the sightseeing
  • Single Supplement
  • Excursions on different languages: German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese-Mandarin, etc.

Payment: 100 % prepayment should be made not less than 3 days before the group’s arrival.    

Cancellation fees:
Cancellation prior 30 days – no penalty is charged
Cancellation prior 15 days – 50 % penalty is charged
Cancellation prior 1 day – 100 % penalty is charged


Cities visited during the expedition and the sightseeing spots related to Alexander the Great:

Tehran – the capital of Iran and one of the largest metropolitans of the world. Location on the slopes of the mountains, numerous parks with flowers blossoming throughout the year, alleys of young planted trees, water running down from the upper city along deep and wide gutters like small rivers – all these attributes make the city especially pleasant at any time of the year.

Shiraz is famous for its wine, numerous gardens, and flowers. This city was a hometown for a number of famous Iranian poets.

Persepolis – the ancient city of Iran, located 70 km from Shiraz.  Founded by Darius I, once it was the capital of Persian Empire. After the conquest of Alexander the Great the city was burned. Nowadays the magnificent ruins of Persepolis, which remained till the present, impress visitors from all over the world.

The famous highlights of Persepolis include: citadel of Persepolis, which is listed among UESCO World Heritage Sites, the Apadana Palace, the Gate of All Nations and many other structures.

Naqsh-i Rustam – near Persepolis there is a number of monuments related to Achaemenid and Sassanid empires. The significant monument is a wall of rock, where tombs of Achaemenid kings are found. One of the tombs was identified due to the inscription on it: “Here was buried Darius the Great”. Supposedly other tombs belong to Kserxs I, Artakserx I and Darius II.

Isfahan – is considered to be the most beautiful city of Iran. The Persian proverb says: “Isfahan is half of the world”. For more than 900 years the city was the capital of the largest province in the centre of the country. Isfahan overcame the invasion of Mongols and during the reign of Shah Abbas it became the capital of Persia as well as reached its pinnacle.
Nowadays this city is famous for its Islamic architecture with lots of beautiful boulevards, bridges, palaces, mosques, and minarets.

Pasargadae – a well-known archaeological site and one of Iran's five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Once it was the first capital of the Achaemenid Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great.
The tomb of Cyrus the Great is the most significant spot in Pasargadae. Historians believe that Alexander paid a visit to the tomb and found out the inscription which proved that it was the place where Cyrus was buried.

Izadkhast – this historical complex consists of Izadkhast castle, caravanserai and Savafid-period bridge. The works inside the castle belong to different periods of Iranian dynasties from Sassanid to Qajar.

Mashhad is considered to be the second largest holy city in the world. It is said that the rich go to Mecca but the poor journey to Mashhad.  Over 20 million Muslims a year make the pilgrimage to Mashhad.

Mary – the second largest city in Turkmenistan and the industrial center, located on the watercourse of Murghab river.

Merv – the treasure trove for archaeologists and excavating it is one of the biggest challenges. Alexandria or Erk Kala is the most impressive site of Merv. The second city of Merv, known today as Antiokhia or Gyaur Kala was founded by Alexander's successors, in 238 BC.

Bukhara – The foundation of the city goes into the remote ages. The most ancient part of Bukhara is its citadel - Ark, where archaeologists excavated the finds dating back to the 3rd century B.C.

Karshi – the area around Karshi is full of holy sites and archaeological settlements. Here you can see Erkurgan Fortress, which was Hephalite and Sogdian city fortress built around a large fire-worshipping temple complex, but nowadays only the double set of city walls and corner bastions remained on this place.

Termez – formed on the right side of the Amu-Darya River, it was developing as one of the leading cities of Bactria and then Kushan Empire. The founding of ancient city is traditionally attributed to Alexander the Great. Among archaeological remains related to different epochs and empires you can witness archaeological site of Kampyr-Tepa, discovered by Edward Rtveladze, and participate in archaeological excavations of this unique site. The excavations in Kampyrtepa have proven that on the place of this settlement was located Alexandria Oxiana. Among discovered artifacts in Kampyrtepa there are Greek inscriptions – graphite markings on fragments of small ceramic vases that testify to the presence of a Greek population in this area. A copper coin of the first century BC with a depiction of the ruler in a diadem with the inscription “Geliokolus” was also discovered. Other interesting finds are ceramic jugs and crockery with vegetation and geometrical symbols similar to Greek amphora. This in turn made the epoch Kampyrtepa a very significant ancient site in regards to the monuments discovered.

Samarkand (Marakanda), founded in 700 BC was the capital of Sogdiana.  When in 329 BC Alexander the Great arrived and took the city, he said: “Everything I have heard about the beauty of the city is indeed true, except that it is much more beautiful than I imagined”. The unique buildings of ancient architecture, heritage of scientific and art schools, centers of national handicrafts available in ancient city are famous today all over the world.

Shakhrisabz – the town preserves a rich store of history in legend and architecture, in November 2002 it celebrated its 2700-th anniversary.

Tashkent – the capital of Uzbekistan and the premier metropolis of Central Asia. The scientists consider Tashkent to be 25 centuries old - from the first settlements till the modern megalopolis with the towering buildings, crowded avenues and heavy traffic.

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